FIT FOR DUTY – Thirty-seven recruits graduating from the Alaska Department of Public Safety Training Academy's Law Enforcement Training Session 1802 take the oath of office this afternoon at the Sheet'ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi. The audience was told that during the rigorous 16-week session recruits lost a combined 200 pounds of body fat. The graduates will be taking law enforcement positions around the state from the North Slope Borough Police Department to statewide Alaska Wildlife Troopers to the Ketchikan Police Department. Speaker at the ceremony was DPS Deputy Commissioner William Comer, who graduated from the academy in 1985. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

Sitkans Against Family Violence will offer a training to those who want to understand the reasons and dynamics surrounding domestic and sexual violence.

The series of sessions runs 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and 6-9 p.m. Mondays (except Aug. 29 and Sept. 7) at the Unitarian Fellowship Hall at 408 Marine Street. A detailed schedule is available on SAFV’s website at www.safv.org.

‘‘For many years, Alaska has been number one or two in the nation in the categories of sexual assault, child abuse and homicide of women by an intimate partner,’’ SAFV said. ‘‘In this program you can learn to understand the issues and what to do if your family members, friends, and co-workers suffer from domestic violence or sexual assault.’’

Individuals can attend the entire program or choose individual sessions. Presenters will be SAFV staff and local professionals. Call SAFV at 747-3370 for the schedule or to ask questions. Sign up by calling or sending an email to
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; however, no prior registration is required.

Cross-Country

Practice to Run

The Sitka High School cross-country team will begin practice July 29. Practices run 3:30-5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the back gym of Sitka High School.

A current physical is required for practice.

Climate Change

Documentary Set

Sitka Conservation Society and the Sitka Global Warming Group will be screening ‘‘Do the Math,’’ a documentary that details the threats of climate change and chronicles the growing movement to fight against it.

The short film will be shown at the Larkspur Cafe 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5. Snacks will be provided. Discussion will follow.

The event is by donation, and no experience is required. The Sitka Fellows program is sponsored by the Island Institute and the Sitka Fine Arts Camp.

Easter Group

Meets Friday

The Easter Group will meet 1-2:30 p.m. Friday, July 31, at St. Peter’s See House.

The group works with other service providers in Sitka to end extreme poverty and empower people. All are invited to attend. For more information, contact Julia Smith at 738-6336,
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Vintage Photos of Alaska

Fishermen to Go On View

An unearthed time capsule will come to Sitka in August with a black-and-white photo exhibit of Alaska commercial fishing in the 1980s.

Photographer Jana M. Suchy captured an era of boom or bust in the explosive longline fisheries during what she calls the “decade of the deadly derbies” when fishing seasons slashed to 24-hour openings.

The photojournalist and former crewmember’s long-buried collection of black-and-white film negatives and published stories ‘‘captures a fleeting era in the history of Alaska longline fisheries in the decade of a crazed and deadly race to the gold,’’ Suchy said. Her photographs offer a glimpse into the everyday lives of skippers and their crew “back in the day,” she writes. “As in most frontiers of the American West fishermen worked hard, fished hard, partied hard, drank hard and died hard.”

Suchy’s vintage photos will join the Sitka Seafood Festival this year. The exhibit of more than 250 photos featuring the fishing industry from 30 years ago celebrates Sitka’s fishing heritage and is companion to the new black-and-white photobook “Alaska Fishing Gold Rush of the 1980s” by the former Sitkan. The second printing of the book – a new Special Sitka Edition with 70 more pages and many more photos of local fishermen and boats – will be for sale along with the first edition while supplies last.

The exhibit opens with a reception 5:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Allen Hall on the Sheldon Jackson Campus. The exhibit also will be open for viewing Friday evening, Aug. 7, for guests at the Sitka Seafood Festival dinner and again for the public 2-5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8.

During the 1980s Suchy first fished out of Sitka then covered fishing as writer-photographer for the fish papers of the day, largely “Alaska Fisherman’s Journal” and “Pacific Fishing” magazine, amassing quite a collection of photos along the way.

Her photos are on the walls in Sitka’s Highliner Coffee, Anthony’s restaurant in SeaTac Airport and Chinook’s restaurant at Fishermen’s Terminal in Seattle.

Suchy will be on hand to sign books for sale at the event; all exhibit photographs will be for sale as well.

“I realized these photos were all going to die with me if I didn’t get serious about a book – so I did,” Suchy said. “I’m enormously excited for fishfolks in the photos or of the era to see these photos of their lives for the first time.”

The show is presented by Seafood Producers Co-op and Sitka Sound Seafoods. Individuals and businesses wanting to help sponsor the event, or seeking further information, can call Craig Shoemaker at 747-5811 or Tim Ryan at 747-6662. Suchy may be reached at
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Story Time Set

“Chickens to the Rescue’’ by John Himmelman will be one of the readings during the next preschool story time at Kettleson Library 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 30.

The program includes readings, rhymes, songs and a craft project.

Summer Reading

Program to End

The Summer Reading Program at Kettleson Memorial Library will end on Saturday, Aug. 8.

The library is inviting participants to claim their final reading prizes by that day. For more information, call the library at 747-8708.

Coaches Wanted

For Boys Run

SAFV is recruiting coaches for its second year of ‘‘Boys Run I toowú klatseen: Strengthen Your Spirit,’’ an after-school empowerment program for boys.

‘‘We’re currently recruiting coaches who will help mentor the next generation of respectful and compassionate men,’’ SAFV said.

The program will meet 2:30-4:15 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, or Tuesday and Thursday. Training for coaches will be on Aug. 29. The program will end with a community 5K Fun Run on Dec. 5.

The application due date is Aug. 15. Contact
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or visit safv.org for more information and a coach application.

3 to 5 Preschool Sets

Teddy Bear Picnic

The public is invited to join 3 to 5 Preschool 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, July 25, for a Teddy Bear Picnic.

‘‘Bring your favorite Teddy Bear, picnic blanket, and a sack lunch to enjoy while we read bear stories and sing songs with your little ones,’’ the preschool said. ‘‘ We look forward to seeing you by the big tree in front of the SJ Campus.’’

Visit 3to5preschool.blogspot.com for more program information, including enrollment options.

Fish Skin Bowl

Presentation Set

The community is invited to join Athabascan fish skin sewer Audrey Armstrong and her class of students noon-1 p.m. Saturday, July 25, at the Sitka Sound Science Center’s Mill building to learn about and see what they made recently during an intensive fish skin-sewing workshop sponsored by the Sheldon Jackson Museum.

The weeklong class was made possible with support from the Sitka Alaska Permanent Charitable Trust, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Sitka Sound Science Center, and Sitka Sound Seafoods.

For more information and to register for the free program, call 747-8981.

New Venue for

Assembly Meetings

City and Borough of Sitka Assembly meetings will be held at UAS-Sitka Campus, 1332 Seward Ave., Room 229, until further notice.

A full agenda is posted at City Hall on the Friday prior to each meeting. Detailed information can be found on the city website at http://sitka.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx, Kettleson Memorial Library and at the Municipal Clerk’s Office in City Hall, 100 Lincoln Street. Assembly meetings are aired live on KCAW-FM 104.7 and via video streaming from the city’s website.

For further information, contact the municipal clerk’s office at 747-1811.

Cross Trail

Classic Aug. 8

The Sitka Cross Trail Classic Marathon and a Half will be held 7 a.m. on Aug. 8.

Registration is available at ultrasignup.com.

Volunteers are needed at aid stations. Contact Julie at 738-3146 or at
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